Stop Wasting Money on Social Media Agencies—Do This Instead!

When it comes to social media, a lot of realtors tell me they want someone to manage it for them. They'll say things like:

"If I could delete social media I would, but I know I need to be on there so my clients can see me."

What Most Realtors Do

They'll find an inexpensive social media agency that promises them the world. These agencies will charge between $500–$1,000 per month.

You sign a contract that gets you locked in for 3–6 months, sometimes even a year.

Fast forward a few months, and you've gotten zero leads. Your accounts still have zero engagement. You're down a few thousand dollars.

Why Hiring an Agency Doesn't Work

Most agencies in this price range create templated infographics on Canva.

They change the fonts and colors to match your brand, slap on your logo and headshot, then schedule it out to all the social platforms.

Since you're busy, you only make sure content gets uploaded but never stop to check how well the content is performing.

Or if you hire the other kind of agency, they'll tell you to record all the content, then they edit and schedule it out.

But you don't have time to record (hence why you hired an agency), so content never gets posted and your money gets flushed down the toilet.

What I Would Do Instead

Step 1: Hire a Part-Time Video Editor

Create a part-time video editor post on Upwork or Onlinejobs.ph.

It will cost approximately $30 per YouTube video and $15 per Reel. Depending on how much content you plan to record, do the math, then offer that as a "salary."

Step 2: Record a Sample Video

Record a sample video that's 1–2 minutes long. In the video, introduce yourself, your business, and what separates you from everyone else.

Make some mistakes on purpose (you won't post this video; you're using it as a test to vet the editors).

Step 3: Test the Editors

Provide the video to each of the applicants. Don't give any instructions aside from "edit this as if it were a YouTube video" (or Reel if you're focused on short-form content).

Most editors won't get back to you, and that's okay. Of the editors who remain, ask your top pick to hop on a Zoom call.

Step 4: Choose the Right Fit

If you feel they are a good fit, proceed to work with them. If not, keep going through the list.

It might take a few tries to find someone good. I'm currently on my third editor, but we've been together since December 2023.

Why This Works Better

Cheap agencies are a waste of money. Great agencies cost an arm and a leg.

The next best alternative is hiring a freelancer. But they often:

• Have multiple clients
• Are not as available or accessible
• Make it harder to build a consistent routine
• Make it harder to get editing chemistry

Benefits of This Method

With this method, you'll attract higher-quality talent. The life of a freelancer is hard—they're competing with people around the world.

The value of the U.S. dollar varies from country to country, so there's always people willing to charge less.

If you provide stable, long-term work, you'll attract better candidates, even if it's part-time. You get someone dedicated to helping your content improve.

They'll start to pick up on your mannerisms, tendencies, and style. You can create a seamless workflow that works for both of you.

You pay a fraction of what you would pay for an agency.

And if you pay them an extra ~$100, you could teach them how to use a tool like Metricool to schedule out the content for you.

That's all for this week! Let me know if you want me to make a full walkthrough on this.